PM expects EU backing on migrants' ship issue

Malta expects European support in its dispute with Italy over the fate of a Turkish owned cargo vessel which on Thursday took on board 154 illegal immigrants in distress, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this morning.

The Panamian flagged Pinar E, currently some 25 nautical miles off Lampedusa, picked up the migrants 41 nautical miles off Lampedusa and 114 miles from Malta.

It was refused entry into Italian waters by the Italian authorities, who are insisting the migrants should be brought to Malta, which is responsible for the search and rescue region.

Malta is insisting, however, that in terms of international conventions, the migrants have to be landed at the nearest safe port, which in this case is Lampedusa.

Dr Gonzi said this morning that according to the practice which had been followed for long years, the immigrants should be taken to the nearest safe port which, in this case, was Lampedusa.

Malta, the Prime Minister said, was already carrying a heavy burden “it is a European burden and I expect the whole of Europe to be behind Malta at this particular moment,” he said.